Travel to Northern and Central Europe

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage traveled to Norway, Latvia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Poland September 11-17. At each stop, he discussed issues of mutual interest, including the global war on terrorism and the situation in Iraq.

In Oslo, Norway the Deputy Secretary met with senior Norwegian government officials, including Prime Minister Bondevik, Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen. 

In Riga, Lativia Deputy Secretary Armitage met with Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, Prime Minister Indulis Emsis, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks. The deputy secretary also gave brief press conference after meeting with the prime minister on Tuesday, September 14. In Slovakia the Deputy Secretary met with Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda.

The Deputy Secretary's program in the Czech Republic included meetings with Prime Minister Stanislav Gross, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda, Defense Minister Karel Kuhnl, and a meeting with a group of Iraqi judges training at the offices of CEELI (the Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative). 

While in Poland on the 15th and 16th, Secretary Armitage inaugurated the U.S.-Poland Strategic Dialogue during talks with his counterpart in the Polish government.

Remarks by Deputy Secretary Armitage

09/17/2004:  Press Conference with Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld
09/15/2004:  Remarks to Iraqi Judges
09/15/2004:  Press Conference with Czech Defense Minister Karel Kuehnl
09/15/2004:  Press Conference with Czech Deputy for Defense and Security Jan Winkler
09/14/2004: Media Roundtable in Slovakia
09/14/2004:  Interview with Slovak Television
09/14/2004:  Press Availability following Meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda
09/14/2004:  Press Conference with Latvian Prime Minister Indulis Emsis
09/13/2004:  Remarks with President Vaira Vike-Freiberga of Latvia
09/13/2004:  Press Availability Following Meeting with Norway’s Foreign Minister Jan Petersen